Problem with test load.

New member

Everything in my circuit is the same. 4 N4001 diodes. The resistor is 1 ohm, 10 watts. My power source is 3.1 volts (2 AAA's), and I am using the rckstr driver. The polarities of the diodes are correct. When I try to measure the voltage across the resistor though, it reads a constant 6mV no matter how I turn the pot... and each diode reads about .57V...

New member

Just tested it with 4 AA's, max I was able to get was about 350mA! All I need really is to get up 450, which should provide more than enough mW for the diode I am using. As for the nine volt... the only one I have on hand happens to be in my DMM... -_- oh well. Hopefully I will be lucky enough for it to draw enough current. If not, I guess I will just go looking for some compact batteries more suitable for lasers!

New member

Good to know. I guess while doing my research I didn't take into account how much the driver itself actually sucked away from the batteries. Its apparent now.... just at 350mA the driver is actually quite warm! Oh well, first builds aren't supposed to be perfect anyways

New member

that driver wont go quite to 500mA unless you modified it. Also stay away from AA AAA 9V C D etc batteries. Your wasting your time with them. Spend $30 and get a quality set of 18650s and charger from larryDFW or buy some cr123a li-ions online.